Sayat-Nova [ Harutin (Harutyun) Sayatyan] is an eminent representative of Armenian poetry and spiritual culture of the Late Middle Ages.

Since the age of 12 Harutin had shown interest in songs and music, learned to play kamancha and saz. He spoke Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani and Persian. He performed as an ashik in the court of Erekle II of Georgia;

here he adopted a name Sayat-Nova which meant "Master of Songs". At the age of 30 he joined the ashik songs arena.

After the death of his wife Sayat-Nova was ordained as a priest Ter-Stepanos. He served in Haghpat Monastery and the Cathedral of Saint George in Tiflis. Sayat-Nova deceased in Tiflis, in 1795 during the invasion of Mohammad Khan Qajar. Sayat-Nova left 70 Armenian, 120 Azerbaijani and about 30 Georgian songs (khagh).

The holiday in honor of Sayat-Nova was established in the beginning of the 20th century; already in 1913 at the initiative of Hovhannes Tumanyan, the painter G. Bashinjagian, and the poet I.Grishashvili, Sayat-Nova's 200th birth anniversary was marked in Tbilisi. One year later, on 15 May 1914, in Tbilisi, in the yard of the Cathedral of Saint George, at the initiative of the Armenian and Georgian writers, a tombstone of the great poet was opened. Since then every year, on the last Sunday of May Vardaton (Feast of Roses), dedicated to Sayat-Nova, has been celebrated.